Abstract: A gaming machine and method including a housing having a door which exposes a currency mechanism along a medial portion thereof and located between a side wall and a monitor. This strategic location of the currency mechanism allows clearance for an underlying coin hopper so as to minimize the need for an external currency mechanism and to provide access to the coin hopper in a much more maintenance friendly manner for tending to the coin hopper and currency mechanisms, e.g. for filling, etc.

Abstract: An arrangement for checking coins wherein the coins (1) move in the checking operation along a side wall (6) of a coin passage (2) and past two coil halves (4a, 4b) which are disposed opposite each other on both sides of the coin passage (2) and which are connected in series in phase opposition. The coin half (4b) which is disposed on the same side of the coin passage (2) as the side wall (6) is of lower resistance than the other coin half (4a) and preferably comprises stranded wire.

Abstract: A convenient and safe drive-up vending machine is provided including a housing with a front face, a rear face, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pair of side faces formed therebetween defining an interior space. A dispensing chute is situated on the front face of the housing. Also included is a money exchanger situated on the front face of the housing. The money exchanger serves to accept and account for money in the form of bills and coins and further dispense change in the form of coins. A selection panel is situated on the front face of the housing and includes a plurality of buttons each having indicia indicative of a consumable product. The selection panel is adapted to effect the delivery of one of the consumable products upon the acceptance and accounting for a proper amount of money and subsequent depression of one of the buttons which correspond to one of the consumable products. Finally, a dispensing pan is coupled to the front face of the housing below the chute.

Abstract: A bill accepting apparatus has a pair of photo-electronic sensors disposed spaced apart from each other on an imaginary line orthogonal to a bill transport direction. The leading edge of the bill being transported is detected at times T1 and T2 by the respective sensors. A time difference between T1 and T2 is compared with a predetermined value. From a known distance between the two sensors, a known bill transport speed and the time difference, the tilt angle of the leading edge can be determined. Analog outputs hyof the sensors are individually converted at a given frequency to first and second series of digital values. A CPU interrupt signal is obtained each time when both of each of the first and second series of digital values are obtained, and this interrupt signal initiates a skewed bill detecting task in a CPU.

Abstract: A coin counter is provided for push-pull coin vending machines, arcade machines and pay-per-use appliances. The counter comprises a bracket assembly having first and second chambers. The first chamber for receiving, processing and expelling a coin, and the second chamber having a switch assembly which is interactive with the coins moving through the first chamber by means of an actuator arm so as to register counts on a connected numeric display. The counter further comprises a stop which receives the weight of the coins processed through the machine and also redirects the coins, allowing the actuator arm to rotate in a reduced arc than the prior art.

Abstract: A device is set forth for dispensing circular plate bodies such as coins which has a channel to push the coins in an end-to-end relationship from to an outlet. A roller is biased to engage the coin emerging from the channel and to be pushed by the emerging coin as it exits. A gear on the shaft mounting the roller and a fixed rack rotates the roller to eject to coin.

Abstract: A coin discriminator system having a massive body integrally incorporated into one of the side walls of a passage channel for coins and which projects slightly outwardly form the level of the side wall towards the passage channel. The rolling coin strikes the transducer to produce mechanical vibrations which are transformed into electrical vibrations by a transducer and an electronic device. The massive body has a curved or spherical surface in relation to the projecting section of the wall. The base of the passage channel through which the coins roll has a slant so that the coins rolling along the channel abut against the side wall of the channel in which the massive body has been positioned.

Abstract: A method of providing security to a self-service checkout terminal having a bagwell and a light curtain device that generates a light curtain which is positioned over the bagwell includes the step of locating a grocery container in the bagwell. The method also includes the step of generating an item-entered control signal when a product code associated with an item is entered into the terminal. The method further includes the step of advancing the item through the light curtain and into the grocery container and generating a first detection control signal in response thereto. Moreover, the method includes the step of generating an invalid-use control signal when the first detection control signal is generated prior to generation of the item-entered control signal. A self-service checkout terminal is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device and method are set forth for determining the authenticity of a coin or token which includes a housing defining a passageway to pass the coin to be tested. Coils are disposed about the housing to generate magnetic flux lines at the passageway. Detection circuits detect changes in amplitudes of the frequencies generating the flux and signals are created corresponding thereto. These signals are compared at a processor to stored data corresponding to amplitude changes for an authentic coin to determine if the coin is authentic.

Abstract: An adjustable length frog-leg type wafer handler is provided. The wafer handler has two arms each having an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion may extend between a normal position and an extended position, and/or the upper portion may extend between an normal position and a compressed position. The adjusted positions (i.e., extended or compressed) are assumed as the wafer handler moves through a center position. Thus, the inventive wafer handler has a normally smaller arm length (as compared to conventional frog leg configurations) which in turn allows a smaller core axis of rotation (i.e., a smaller bladeless arm length). Therefore the blade used with the adjustable wafer handler may be longer by an amount equal to the difference between the normal and the adjusted arm lengths, without increasing the overall (i.e., the length of the arm and blade) retracted axis of rotation.

Abstract: A coin discrimination apparatus and method is provided in which an oscillating electromagnetic field is generated on a single sensing core. The oscillating electromagnetic field is composed on one or more frequency components. The electromagnetic field interacts with a coin, and these interactions are monitored and used to classify the coin according to its physical properties. All frequency components of the magnetic field are phase-locked to a common reference frequency. The phase relationships between the various frequencies are fixed, and the interaction of each frequency component with the coin can be accurately determined without the need for complicated electrical filters or special geometric shaping of the sensing core. In one embodiment, a sensor having a core, preferably ferrite, which is curved, such as in a U-shape or in the shape of a section of a torus, and defining a gap, is provided with a wire winding for excitation and/or detection.

Abstract: In a method of the invention, a balance in a bill processing machine can be easily inspected and identified. At first, an input bill identification section of the bill processing machine identifies whether an imitation bill created for inspection is being input. If the imitation bill is detected, inspection counters for bill types are cleared, and sequentially, bills loaded and stored in a bill storage is circulated via a circulating path in the bill processing machine. The bills delivered from the bill storage in the circulation operation are identified, and a number of bills according to the bill types is counted at inspection counters. When the imitation bill sent to the bill storage is identified by an output-bill identification section in the circulation operation, the circulating operation is stopped, and the imitation bill is discharged from the bill processing machine.

Abstract: A selector device for selecting objects (1) inserted by way of payment into a dispenser of goods or services via an insertion orifice (10), the device comprising a transport member (100) provided with a housing (110) designed to receive the objects singly and suitable for bringing an object (1) placed in said housing (110) into a measurement zone (ZM) where sensors (301, 302, 303) are disposed for verifying conformity of the object (1). According to the invention, the selector device also comprises drive mechanisms (200, 210) suitable for imparting a non-reversible continuous movement to said transport member (100) along a path during which the housing (110) passes from an initial position (P1) of communication with the insertion orifice (10) to a final or waiting position (P2), while passing through the measurement zone (ZM) in continuous manner, the sensors (301, 302, 303) for verifying conformity receiving sampling signals sampling the movement of the transport member (100).

Abstract: A coin discrimination apparatus and method is provided in which an oscillating electromagnetic field is generated on a single sensing core. The oscillating electromagnetic field is composed on one or more frequency components. The electromagnetic field interacts with a coin, and these interactions are monitored and used to classify the coin according to its physical properties. All frequency components of the magnetic field are phase-locked to a common reference frequency. The phase relationships between the various frequencies are fixed, and the interaction of each frequency component with the coin can be accurately determined without the need for complicated electrical filters or special geometric shaping of the sensing core. In one embodiment, a sensor having a core, preferably ferrite, which is curved, such as in a U-shape or in the shape of a section of a torus, and defining a gap, is provided with a wire winding for excitation and/or detection.

Abstract: A coin sorting and counting machine and a method for operating it to automatically dispense cash vouchers based on the value of the counted coins, manufacturers' coupons and store coupons. Coins are placed in a hopper tray angled downward from the horizontal. When the hinged tray is lifted, the coins travel over a peak structure, through a waste management system and into the coin sorting and counting apparatus. The value of the coins and the number of coins within each denomination are displayed as the coins are counted. The coins fall into a storage area and the user is issued a cash voucher and a series of manufacturer coupons.

Abstract: A dual function device which provides compressed air for tire inflation and a vacuum machine for cleaning operations at a single location. The air compressor and the vacuum machine are interconnected electrically so that a user may switch back and forth between each function as rapidly as may be required by the user without overloading or stalling the air compressor. A pressure relief valve is also provided in the air compressor outlet pipe to control the air pressure in the outlet pipe, thereby allowing restarts of the air compressor in an unloaded condition. In an alternate embodiment, the air compressor is connected to an air reservior. The timer controls the operation of a solenoid or a vacuum machine. The timer energizes the solenoid, which then opens to provide compressed air from the air reservoir.

Abstract: Apparatus for verifying, validating and codifying an inductive card having a plurality of individual credit cells, each of which represent a credit value until burned out so that a partially used card has valid and burned-out cells. The apparatus includes a card reader having a plurality of sensors corresponding to the plurality of credit cells on the inductive card, a device for comparing the distribution of burned-out cells on the card with a standardized order of burning out cells in using the card, and an indicating device for showing the quantity of credit values available on the card and whether or not the card is valid. The card reader has a matrix of sensors arranged in columns and rows, a set of column drivers, a set of row drivers, and is capable of detecting the condition of each credit cell on the card. The apparatus has an independent power supply and the comparing device has a microprocessor with a keyboard and a ROM memory.

Abstract: A method of determining a combination of coins to be dispensed as change comprises determining a plurality of different possible combinations and selecting the most favorable one. For combinations which in sum are equal to the same amount, the most favorable combination is the one determined to leave the greatest number of coins available for change according to a predetermined criterion which takes into account the number of currently-available coins of at least one denomination. If two combinations are evaluated to be the same so far as change availability is concerned, the combination which comprises the least number of coins is selected.

Abstract: A document acceptor includes a document transport path and a multi-function optical sensor disposed adjacent the document path. The multi-function sensor can be operated in one of two or more modes. Depending on the mode in which the sensor is operated, signals from the sensor can be used, for example, to indicate whether a document has reached a particular position, to determine whether the document includes a predetermined pattern, such as a bar-code pattern, or to determine whether an attempt is being made to pull the document out of the acceptor.

Abstract: A coin sorter for sorting coins of mixed diameters is set forth. The sorter includes a coin-driving member and a coin-guiding member. The lower surface of the coin-guiding member forms a plurality of exit channels for guiding coins of different diameters to different exit stations along the periphery of the coin-guiding member. The coin sorter includes a brake mechanism which permits stopping of the coin-driving member at high speeds such that an invalid coin is retained or for ensuring the correct amount of coins is sent to the coin-collecting receptacle. The coin sorter also includes an operator interface panel for easy operator inputs. Operator inputs allow the operator to adjust the movement of the coin-driving member after encountering a stop and for adjusting the amount of lubrication sent to the coin-guiding member.